Is a Sliding 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch Required for a 2015 Ram 3500 Short Bed

Question:

Do I really need a 5th wheel slider hitch in my 2015 Ram 3500 short bed. I have been hearing I dont?

asked by: Al Y

Expert Reply:

Whether or not you need a slider 5th wheel hitch depends a lot on the design of the trailer. Some 5th wheel trailers have a tapered front that is designed for short bed trucks. Other trailers are narrow enough in general and would not be a problem.

Otherwise you would need to either use a slider hitch or a Sidewinder pin box on the trailer. Most of the time a slider hitch or Sidewinder will be required on a short bed truck so that you can make sharp turns without the trailer hitting the truck cab.

Since you have a 2015 Ram 3500 short bed I recommend a slider because you never know what you might tow! For a slider hitch I recommend the Demco HiJacker # DM8550034 for 2 reasons. First, it offers the most travel (14 inches) to provide more clearance when making tight turns. And second, it slides automatically so you won't have to do anything to get it to slide. For a custom installation kit for you truck you can use # DM8552026-71.

If your Ram has the factory prep package then you can use hitch # DM8550034 with puck adapter # DM6099 instead of the regular installation kit.

If you are unsure about the design of the trailer you can tell me the year, make, and model of it and I can determine if it is a special tapered or narrow model or if it is more traditional and would necessitate a slider hitch.